Dublin course Portmarnock keen to host Open or Women's Open

Portmarnock has staged the Irish Open on 19 occasions

Portmarnock has contacted the R&A saying that it is keen to explore the possibility of staging either The Open Championship or Women's Open.

A statement from the Dublin club said it has had "informal contact" with the R&A over hosting either major.

The club hopes the Irish Government will back a formal approach to the R&A.

"The club has had informal contact with the R&A regarding the possibility of hosting the AIG Women's Open and The Open at Portmarnock in the coming years," said Portmarnock club captain Niall Goulding.

"Without a detailed survey, it is not possible to verify the ability of the property to act as host to a major championship, given the significant infrastructural requirements of such an event.

"The club has determined that government support would be critical for a project of this magnitude and, consequently, will now approach the relevant government authorities to establish their position on providing support for a formal application by Portmarnock to the R&A to host a major championship."

Rory McIlroy believes Portmarnock would be an "amazing" Open Championship venue

The course, which has staged the Irish Open on 19 occasions, hosted the Men's Amateur Championship in 2019 and will be the venue for the Women's Amateur Championship next year.

An obvious obstacle to the Open or Women's Open being hosted by Portmarnock was removed in May 2021 when the Dublin club voted to admit women members for the first time.

Speaking prior to last month's Irish Open, McIlroy said that it was his understanding that the R&A was considering the possibility of staging The Open outside the United Kingdom, adding that Portmarnock would be a "fantastic" option.

"There are so many other considerations to hosting a major championship apart from just being a great golf course," said the Northern Irishman.

"There has to be a lot of stuff that makes sense. But, you know, having a course that's so close to a major city, so close to a major airport, having a great golf course, I think it would be amazing."

Portmarnock hosted the Walker Cup in 1991, when Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley were part of the Great Britain and Ireland team and the US team included Phil Mickelson and David Duval.

Famously, the north Dublin club hosted the then Canada Cup, which later became the World Cup, in 1960 when US greats Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead clinched an eight-shot victory.

The Open Championship will be staged in Northern Ireland in 2025 when Royal Portrush hosts the venue six years after the major returned to the county Antrim course for the first time in 68 years.